fophifter indeed, who could perfuade a man that honey was bitter, whilft he tafted the fweetnefs of it in his mouth. It is an experimental conviction of the truth of the gofpel, which fortifies the true Christian against all the arts of feducers. He hath a witness within himself, and can bring a proof from his own heart, both of the truth and excellence of the religion which he profeffeth. It was a stubborn queftion which Athana fius put to the heathens of his time, who denied the refurrection of Chrift. If Chrift 'be not alive,' faid he, how doth he yet

deftroy your idols, and caft out devils, and convert and fubdue the world to himself? Are theft the works of a dead man?' In like manner can the fanctified foul fay, Have I felt Chrift opening my blind eyes, binding the ftrong man, and cafting him out? Have I felt him ftamping his image upon my foul, and bringing me with boldness into the prefence of that God whom I had offended? And after this, fhall I doubt whether there be a Christ, or whether this Christ be able to fave me?' Thus can the true believer, who hath felt

the

the power of Chriftianity, bring unanfwerable arguments for its truth from his own experience: Arguments which neither the temptations of Satan, nor the cavils of wicked men, will be able to overthrow.

3dly, If you would cleave with stedfastnefs unto the Lord, attend conftantly to the inward frame and temper of your hearts. Make confcience of watching over your most fecret thoughts. Suffer them not to wander without controul, or to spend their ftrength upon things which cannot profit you; otherwise you will open a wide door to the enemy, and even furnish him with weapons which he will not fail to improve against you. I am afraid the importance of this direction is too little confidered by the generality of Chriftians. We commonly think ourselves fecure when out of the way of external temptations, and fuffer our minds to roam at large wherever fancy prefents an amufing object. Whereas we ought to confider, that whatever inflames our paffions, or gives them an improper direction, is equally burtful to the foul, whether the cause be real or imaginary. Nay, I am perfuaded

D 4

fuaded, that the tempter doth often make greater havock in our hearts, by mingling his poifon with the fuggeftions of our own minds, than by all his other methods of temptation. If we would keep our hearts indeed, we must watch their motions as carefully when we are alone, as when we are abroad, and in the midst of danger. The prefence of God fhould conftantly overawe our most fecret thoughts, and havė equal influence on us in our retirement, as when we act in the open view of the world. -A

4th direction I fhall give you in the words of the Apostle Paul, (Rom. xi. 20.)

"Be

not high-minded, but fear." Remember what our blessed Lord faid to his difciples, "Without me ye can do nothing." Nothing is more offenfive to God than pride. When our hearts begin to fwell with a high opinion of our own ftrength, he is provoked to with-hold his grace from us; because all that is poured into the proud foul runs over in felf-applaufe, and fo is like water spilt on a rock, with refpect to any good that it doth to a man himfelf, or any glory which

it brings to God. The proud heart, like the towering cliff, is never fruitful. If we would in due time be exalted, we must first humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, This is the way to obtain fresh fupplies of his fupporting grace. "Happy is "the man," faith Solomon, "who feareth "always." A holy diffidence of ourselves is the true temper of a Christian, and will both ferve to keep us out of the way of temptation, and teach us to act with the caution of men who perceive their danger, and are careful to fhun it.

5thly, Avoid, as much as poffible, the fellowfhip of wicked men, This is an advice which I am inclined to repeat as often as I can find occafion for it; and indeed it is fcarcely poffible to infist upon it as much as its importance deferves. A man who is careless of his company, difregards his own foul. If therefore you would cleave unto the Lord, imitate the holy Pfalmist, and give charge to evil-doers to depart from you. Let the faints, the excellent ones of the earth, be the men of your counfel. We stand much in need of all the affiftance, which

we

we can derive from our fellow Chriftians t "Wo to him that is alone when he falleth," faith the wife man, "for he hath not an"other to help him up." Whereas, when Chriftians join together in holy communion, like trees planted in a thicket, they fhelter and defend one another. They have boldness to face their advertaries, as well as ftrength to baffle their attempts to feduce them.

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"Let us then exhort one another

daily, left any of us be hardened through "the deceitfulness of fin." Like brethren, let us dwell together in love and unity, having all our fpiritual goods in common, being ready to distribute, willing to commu"nicate," according to the measure of gifts and graces which it hath pleased our heavenly Father to beftow on us.-In the

6th and last place, If we would obey the exhortation in the text, we must beware of neglecting the inftrumental duties of religion. Let us carefully read the Holy Scriptures, which God, in mercy, hath given us to be a " lamp to our feet, and a light unto "our path ""The law of the Lord is per"fect, converting the foul: the teftimony

" of